REQ: San Francisco travel tips

[amnesiac]

My g/f and I are planning on driving up the coast to San Fran this weekend from LA. Nothing is planned so far.
I need:

- Good hotel to stay at
- Restaurants to eat at
- Things to see


Thanks!

 

[SWirth86]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
My g/f and I are planning on driving up the coast to San Fran this weekend from LA. Nothing is planned so far.
I need:

- Good hotel to stay at
- Restaurants to eat at
- Things to see


Thanks!

Fishermans Wharf has a bunch of cool places to eat.
Lombard Street (The crooked one).

 

[UNCjigga]

Check out Ruby Skies...its like the hippie version of Studio 54 in NYC (no hippies don't go there...and they don't play hippie music...well just go there and you'll know what i mean!)

 

[Ameesh]

go get dim sum in china town.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
go get dim sum in china town.

Powell and Market, right?

-PAB

 

[habib89]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
My g/f and I are planning on driving up the coast to San Fran this weekend from LA. Nothing is planned so far.
I need:

- Good hotel to stay at
- Restaurants to eat at
- Things to see


Thanks!

hrmm... i dunno about hotels.. since i live here... but there's a bunch in downtown that are bound to be nice.. just stick with the big ones.. hilton etc...

uhh.. restraunts.. if you guys like prime rib, house of prime rib on van ness is awesome.. the chinese restraunts in chinatown are good if you like chinese food.. italian food can be had at north beach.. the stinkin rose i hear is good... it's this place that does lots with garlic..

things to see.. hrmm... pier 39 / fisherman's wharf.. those are nice.. can spend half a day there at least.. coit tower, lombard... if you guys like to check out nice houses, or nice scenery, you can go check out the sea cliff area.. oh, and of course you can go across the golden gate bridge, there's an area there you can stop and look at the view and what not... napa isn't too far away.. that's a nice place to check out.. but you only have a weekend... anyway.. have fun whatever you two decide to do


edit: on the topic of dim sum, you really should get some one of the mornings.. basically walk around in chinatown and there's a buncha places.. just look for places that are packed... that's how us chinese people do it... i know of a couple on jackson by kearny that are really good.. you can check those out if you like... also, they have some great chinese bakeries.. around grant and jackson area.. man.. it'd be fun to take out new people through chinatown.. i'd always be happy to show you around.. but i'm sure you wouldn't want me 3rd-wheelin between you and your girl..

edit 2: if you're a baseball fan, you can go check out pacbell park.. it's a great park.. if you don't want to spend the day at a game, you can just drive there, and walk around outside.. it's really a nice park.. that and you're on the embarcadero so you can walk around and enjoy the view..

 

[SuperTool]

Go to the DNA lounge. They have internet access (linux) there, so if you don't feel like dancing, you can check your email or post an ATOT or something

 

[Banana]

I'd avoid any of the restaurants in Fishermans' Wharf--horrible "tourist" food. And the clam chowder in bread bowl--OHH-THE HUMANITY!!

Definitely check out:
1. Japantown--Lotsa cool stuff, including a huge Japanese book store.
2. Drive to Monterrey for Monterrey Aquarium--the Pacific Coast Hwy is beautiful and romantic
3. Drive a stick shift uphill

Don't forget to pack warm clothing. Yes-even in summer.

(I was in SF in July--for a private Metallica party and jam session!! )

1YP

 

[777php]

Originally posted by: 1YellowPeril
I'd avoid any of the restaurants in Fishermans' Wharf--horrible "tourist" food. And the clam chowder in bread bowl--OHH-THE HUMANITY!!

Definitely check out:
1. Japantown--Lotsa cool stuff, including a huge Japanese book store.
2. Drive to Monterrey for Monterrey Aquarium--the Pacific Coast Hwy is beautiful and romantic
3. Drive a stick shift uphill

Don't forget to pack warm clothing. Yes-even in summer.

(I was in SF in July--for a private Metallica party and jam session!! )

1YP

Sapporo-Ya is in Japantown and makes the best RAMEN!!! They make the noodles fresh every morning.

 

[james78]

hotels - go to biddingfortravel.com and check out the prices people are paying on priceline. The prak hyatt is going for $60 a night at the moment, the hyatt embarcadero (not as nice but ok) can be had for < $40.

Please stay away from Fishermans Wharf - it is nothing but a tourist trap full of bad restaurants (although there are a few good seafood places) and T-Shirt stores. Plenty of other things to see - take the 49 mile drive (or some of it anyway), coit tower, golden gate park. If you play golf go play the lincoln park golf course - you get the best views of ocean beach and the golden gate from there. Just chill in the city (or whatever neighbourhood u end up in - don't try to see everything). Go to the Haight, Union Street or go chill out in Washington Square Park.

Places to eat - so many. You were recommended stinking rose - stay away and go to virtually any other restaurant in N. Beach (I like North Beach restuaurant for Italian). Likewise if someone recommends Chinese at the House of Nan King just go to Chef Jias which is next to it. No lines, MUCH less pushy service and food which is at least as good. There are so many good restaurants though - citysearch will probably help more than recommendations here

I echo warm clothing - however warm it seems at 2pm take a jacket with you. When the fog rolls in you'll be the one laughing at the people waiting for the cable car.

 

[toph99]

Alcatraz is cool and yes, stay away from Fisherman's Wharf restaurants. very expensive. oh, and just to save you from ripping your hair out, when you go around town, TAKE THE BUS! i can't count the number of times we have to drive around to find a parking spot, and it wasn't even tourist season.

oh, and if you like WWII stuff, check out the WWII sub that they have near where you take the boat to alcatraz. it was really interesting

 

[IBuyUFO]

Bring sweater and shorts.

 

[Kaieye]

As a native San Franciscan, I like to take my out of town guest on a bicycle ride tour of San Francisco. I would park my car near the Ferry building near Fisherman's Wharf and unload the bike's. Afterwards, we would bike ride along the coast thru Fisherman's Wharf and into the Marina Green and head towards the Golden Gate bridge(thru the Presidio). After crossing the bridge, we would ride down into Sausalito and grab some ice cream there. Afterwards, we would line up for the ferry boat to cross back to SF. Everyone I have taken on this bike/tour trip loved it. For the best Dim Sum in SF, I would go to Ton Kiang out on Geary blvd near 22nd Ave. For the best Chinese food, I would pick R and G lounge on Kearny St. near Clay. LA probably has better food overall...

 

[walrus]

Don't miss Fort Point it'sa Civil War era Brick fort under the South (SF) end of the Golden Gaate Bridge. It has the best view of the bridge. There are usualy surfers riding the swells coming in under the bridge. I like to paddle my sea kayak there. The marina under the North end has beautiful views. Then take the road West from the North end of the bridge. It climbs fast above the bridge and any fog. It is a favorite place to take pictures of S.F. and the bridge. If you have bikes park near the South end of the bridge and ride across.
The Greens restraunt at the East end of the Marina is a great place to eat, might be a little expensive though.

 

[bcmind]

i was there 2 weeks ago... and boy... chinese food are awesome...

you must go "Koi Palace" and try some of their dim sum for lunch.... be there early.. or else you have to wait for long time....

Also check out Zagat for other good place to dine

when i was there, i stay at Oakland downtown... cost is about $100/night tax included and NO parking space. You might want to look for hotel with parking space included for a better deal....

hope that helps!

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: bcmind
i was there 2 weeks ago... and boy... chinese food are awesome...

you must go "Koi Palace" and try some of their dim sum for lunch.... be there early.. or else you have to wait for long time....

Also check out Zagat for other good place to dine

when i was there, i stay at Oakland downtown... cost is about $100/night tax included and NO parking space. You might want to look for hotel with parking space included for a better deal....

hope that helps!

Nob Hill, downtown SF - 3 star hotel WITH PARKING for $80 including tax.
Go Hotwire!

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

I'm stunned, nay shocked at the complete lack of mention of Metreon.

Everyone goes to The Wharf just to say they've been there, but it's crowded, touristy, and full of beggars. If you must go, I'd stick to Pier 39. At least you can watch the sea lions lying there.

Some of my favorite sights:

- Golden Gate Park is beautiful for hiking and picnics
- Grace Cathedral
- Coit Tower in the late afternoon, but only if the weather is reasonably clear
- The Cartoon Art Museum is downtown if you like comics (the last time I was there, they had an exhibit of Calvin and Hobbes strips on display, each selected by Bill Watterson)

If you make it out to Oakland, either a tour or a movie at the Paramount Theatre is a must.

 

[bUnMaNGo]

McCormick & Kuleto's over at Ghirardelli Square. Amazing view and the best fried calamari I've had.

 

[SpongeBob]

I would recommend going to Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and the Steinhart Aquarium.